He was breathless. I swept him up in my arms, and for the first time since I knew him I heard him whimper. Not a sad, terrible kind of whimper, but one of relief and happiness. He nuzzled against my neck, and he couldn’t contain his excitement. He kept singing his little song for me, his heart racing against my hand, his head pushing farther against me to get even closer. I squeezed him tight and rocked him back and forth, back and forth. When he grew silent, I kissed him on his nose, something I wouldn’t have done before for fear of his teeth. That's when I heard his snores.
